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Axios
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
What Louisiana lawmakers passed in 2025
Louisiana lawmakers wrapped up their legislative session on Thursday, putting a bow on 60 days of deal making and budgeting. Why it matters: Gov. Jeff Landry has already pulled out his pen to start signing new legislation, making official more than 100 new laws by Friday. The big picture: Because this year's session was all about the state's financials, lawmakers had limited ability to focus on other priorities. But limited does not mean none, so there are still changes to state laws that you should know about. Here's a look at some of this session's most notable edits: 💰 Budget passes: The state got a $51 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts in July. Notable line items include: $1.8 million for the manhunt stemming from the New Orleans jail escape, according to the AP. $1.2 billion in one-time funds from a state savings account to pay for infrastructure improvements, plus site prep for future economic development pitches. No additional funding for Landry's LA GATOR school voucher program, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. Teachers and support staff will get some pay increases through HB 466, which the state will pay for with education trust funds. 🚙 Car insurance changes: Heading into this session, Landry eyed changes that he believes could help lower car insurance rates for Louisiana citizens. Landry signed legislation to give the state insurance commissioner more authority to reject rate increases, offer discounts for dashcams for some trucking companies, prevent undocumented immigrants from collecting damages in car accidents and other changes. 🍎 MAHA trends: Some lawmakers prioritized legislation inspired by HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr's. "Make America Healthy Again" policies. Sen. Patrick McMath's bill that bans some artificial food dyes and additives from school foods got the OK. Restaurants would also have to post if they use seed oils. With Landry's signature, it would take effect in 2028. Lawmakers also approved a now-signed bill to ban " chemtrails," a conspiracy theory-based idea that chemicals are released from the vapor threads seen behind airplanes. Ivermectin, which some MAHA influencers say can help cure coronavirus despite studies showing it is ineffective, would become accessible in over-the-counter purchases, with Landry's signature. Another MAHA-adjacent bill to ban fluoride in the state's water did not pass. 🤳 Talking while driving: With Landry's signature, it'll soon be illegal to hold a cell phone while driving. Law enforcement are instructed to issue warnings until Jan. 1, 2026, after which drivers would face fines. 🎓 UNO merges into LSU system: Facing ongoing financial struggles, the New Orleans university will now be part of the flagship university's system. Go deeper from The Times-Picayune. Other school updates include a new TOPS award for students who score at least a 31 on the ACT and a two-hour course requirement on hazing for students who participate in student organizations. It was inspired by Southern University student Caleb Wilson's death earlier this year. 💨 Kratom ban: The herbal substance, which critics say has abuse potential, will be banned, with Landry's signature. 🎈 Balloon releases banned: The rest of the state caught up with New Orleans' ban on balloon releases after ongoing power outage issues, according to Louisiana First News. 💊 What we're watching: Landry has threatened to call a special session to address prescription drug costs. A controversial bill was scuttled in the 11th hour on Thursday after a fierce battle between some of the largest pharmacy benefits managers, like CVS, and Landry and his supporters, who sought to ban companies from owning PBMs and pharmacies. The bill, however, would not take effect until 2027, so Sen. Cameron Henry told The Times-Picayune he doesn't see the point in holding a special session for an issue that could be taken up next year instead.
American Press
11-06-2025
- Business
- American Press
Editorial: Senate makes wise budget changes
The Louisiana Senate made some major changes in the state budget that it received from the House for the fiscal year beginning July 1. It decided not to merge two state savings accounts and use one of them for long-delayed one-time projects. Both the House and Senate approved the budget unanimously when it left their chambers. Members of the House will decide today whether they will agree to changes to the state budget bill (House Bill 1) made by the Senate. It's called concurrence. The Advocate reported that the Senate added $1.2 billion in one-time spending for roads and bridges, economic development initiatives and improvements to college campuses. The money comes from the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, which holds $3.9 billion. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, in a statement said, 'What we're doing today changes the overall budget climate in our state in terms of workforce investment, economic development advancement and infrastructure improvements. It sets the stage for a better tomorrow.' Henry said he hoped the House would concur with the changes, adding that the two chambers worked in conjunction in recent days. The Senate amendments set aside $709 million for the Louisiana Transportation Infrastructure Fund, which pays for improvements to roads, bridges and similar work and another $273 million for the Louisiana Economic Development Initiatives Fund, which funds efforts to attract new investments in the state. Another $75 million will go toward local water system improvements which are sorely needed. And $43 million will fund higher education priorities, which have also been delayed too long. The Senate budget, as Henry had forecast earlier, provides only $43.5 million for the LA GATOR school choice program that gives parents money to pay for private schools. Gov. Jeff Landry wanted the $93.5 million approved by the House. Henry said anyone who received voucher funding last year for those same school costs will get it in the new budget. 'We made it crystal clear last year how much we were going to fund, and this year we followed through,' Henry said. 'To make sure we don't grow the government too fast, which Americans for Prosperity does not want us to do, and we want to make sure that we're spending taxpayer money wisely.' The Advocate reported that Henry said total expected spending for the coming fiscal year is $48.2 billion and nearly half of that is paid for by federal funds. Voters in March rejected an amendment that included plans to eliminate the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund that the Senate used and move its funds to the Budget Stabilization Fund (rainy day fund) for future budget emergencies. A bill filed for the current legislative fiscal session also called for merging those two funds. It passed the House 99-1 but as of Tuesday was pending in the Senate Finance Committee and it is expected to die there. Like Henry, we hope the House goes along with Senate changes to the budget because the funding it provides is going to take care of pressing needs that haven't gotten the attention they deserve.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana Senate adds $1.2 billion to budget for one-time projects
BATON ROUGE, La. (LSU Manship School News Service) — With the end of the legislative session approaching, the Louisiana Senate approved a revised state budget Monday, adding at least $1.2 billion that was not in the House version of the bill. The money would come from the $3.9 billion in state's Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, which holds some of the funds collected through corporate and severance taxes. The Senate would spend that money on one-time projects to improve infrastructure, higher education facilities and economic development. The budget bill, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, now goes back to the House for concurrence or further negotiations with the Senate before the session is scheduled to end on Thursday. The money added by the Senate includes $709 million for major transportation projects, $275 million for site development and business incentives and $75 million for local water system upgrades. Another $43 million is dedicated to higher education needs such as deferred maintenance and construction, while $23 million would go to criminal justice infrastructure. 'The Senate has done a solid job with this budget limiting government growth and prioritizing funding for infrastructure so our state can continue to advance,' said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg. Like the House bill, the Senate's version of the budget also includes $199 million for teacher stipends of $2,000 for K-12 teachers and $1,000 for support workers at public schools. But the Senate restores $30 million for high-dose tutoring programs that the House had cut. It also slashes the proposed appropriation for Gov. Jeff Landry's LA GATOR program that would let parents use state money to pay to send their children to private schools. Landry and the House wanted to spend $93.5 million for LA GATOR in the next fiscal year. But given concerns about the state's longer-term financial picture and the potential impact on funding for public schools, the Senate proposed cutting that to $43.5 million. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, called the process a collaborative effort between the chambers. 'Unity is what makes this process work,' he said. 'What we're doing today changes the overall budget climate in our state. It sets the stage for a better tomorrow.' La. legislative session nears end, here's a recap Give dad a fitness experience in Baton Rouge for Father's Day Grand opening of first Mississippi Buc-ee's draws huge crowd Funeral home limo driver, escorts cited in train collision that 'mangled' car Bannon calls for special counsel probe of Musk Male blood found where 3 sisters in Washington were killed; search for father continues Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana Senate reins in tax cut and school voucher plans
BATON ROUGE, La. (LSU Manship School News Service) — The Louisiana Senate is reining in several major proposals pushed by Gov. Jeff Landry and House conservatives, rejecting additional tax cuts and scaling back spending on private school vouchers amid caution over the state's longer-term financial outlook. Despite clearing the House with little resistance, two key tax bills were effectively shelved by the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee earlier this week. The committee declined to take up a plan to further phase down personal income taxes, and it slashed funding for a Landry plan to expand state funding for parents to send their children to private schools. The moves mark a shift in the session's power dynamics and highlight tension between the governor's office and Senate leaders as the legislative session heads toward a close on June 12. Senate leaders said they did not see any way to offset the revenue losses from further tax cuts. Some lawmakers fear that the state could face hundreds of millions in additional costs if Congress and the Trump administration follow through on proposals to cut federal Medicaid spending and shift much of the responsibility for disaster relief to the states. Two bills by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, were at the center of the House's tax-cutting agenda. House Bill 578 would have dropped the state's portion of the sales tax rate from 5% to 4.75%, while House Bill 667 aimed to lower individual income taxes from the 3% flat rate approved in November to 2.75%. The bill also would have doubled the standard deduction for seniors. Legislative analysts estimated that the sales tax bill would have reduced general fund revenue by about $266 million in fiscal 2028. Emerson's income-tax bill would have cut another $378 million in the same year. Emerson said her goal was to eventually eliminate the state income tax altogether. She also had proposed a constitutional amendment to eliminate the Revenue Stabilization Fund and redirect corporate tax surpluses to help pay for the cuts, but legislative economists said that would have offset only a portion of the lost revenue. Senators, led by Revenue & Fiscal Affairs committee chair Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, said they were not ready to move forward without more data. Referring to tax cuts in 2008 that later led to a $2 billion state funding shortfall, Foil said: 'In hindsight, we moved too quickly in enacting those tax reductions.' He added: 'I'm all for trying to reduce taxes if we have excess revenue, but we have to do it in a responsible way.' National conservative groups have poured money into lobbying for the LA GATOR program and similar school vouchers in other states to help families pay private school tuition. Landry had asked for $93.5 million, and the House had included that amount in its version of the budget for fiscal 2026, which starts July 1. But the Senate Finance Committee slashed that amount to $43.5 million. The increase would have nearly doubled the number of students receiving vouchers to about 11,300. The cut reflects a clear political divide between Landry and Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who has said since April that the Senate would only fund LA GATOR at the same level as an older voucher program it is replacing, and he has not budged. Some lawmakers also are concerned that there are few private schools in rural areas and that the LA GATOR program could eventually lead to a reduction in funding for public schools The reduced GATOR funding would cover about 6,000 students already receiving state-funded tuition assistance. Earlier this year, State Superintendent of Education Kade Brumley opened applications for the program statewide, assuming the number of available vouchers would grow. Nearly 40,000 families applied. Henry and other senators also voiced concerns about how fast LA GATOR's costs could grow and whether private school vouchers improve student outcomes. The difference in LA GATOR funding levels between the House and the Senate bills will have to be ironed out by a conference committee with members from both parties. The Senate budget also includes several education-related amendments: ● Restores $30 million for high-dosage tutoring. ● Allocates $20 million to pay off the University of New Orleans' debts so it can merge into the LSU System. ● Keeps $198 million for teacher stipends, $2,000 for certified educators and $1,000 for support staff, by offsetting costs elsewhere. Senators also added hundreds of millions in federal funding to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals and physicians. The request still needs federal approval, but if approved, it would raise Louisiana's Medicaid funding by $500 million in the budget year starting June 1. Lawmakers are also hoping to get retroactive payments for the current fiscal year. The request comes as President Donald Trump and House Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, push to reduce federal Medicaid spending. State leaders hope those efforts to affect the reimbursement rates they're trying to secure. Trump tax bill would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over a decade: CBO Ascension Parish Schools investigating teacher's social media comments Judge tosses Democrats' challenge to Trump order's effect on FEC Ahead of the Storm: Outlook for 2025 hurricane season, remembering Hurricane Katrina Bill Clinton reveals why Secret Service gave him an M&M's box Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana senators trim private education vouchers, expand Medicaid budget
Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, helped lead an effort to reduce funding in the state budget for a new private education voucher program that Gov. Jeff Landry has pushed. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) The Republican-led Louisiana Senate Finance Committee has removed public money meant to expand the use of private education vouchers in spite of the initiative being a priority for fellow Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. The committee agreed Sunday to cut $50 million from LA GATOR, Landry's initiative launching in the 2025-26 school year. The reduction will leave $44 million for the program, enough to continue covering private school tuition for 6,000 students who already receive state-funded vouchers. Landry and the Louisiana House wanted to put an additional $50 million into LA GATOR so the state could give out 5,300 new vouchers next school year, for approximately 11,300 overall. The cut was one of the biggest shakeups in the Senate leadership's initial version of the $43 billion state budget unveiled Sunday. The Senate and House must come together to reach a compromise on the spending plan by June 12. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, has been resolute in his opposition to giving out more vouchers in the coming year. For weeks, he has expressed concern that LA GATOR's cost could grow faster than the state can afford it, and that the state's existing voucher program hasn't resulted in better education outcomes for students enrolled in it. Still, Landry and conservative groups who back LA GATOR have been putting pressure on senators to keep the $50 million in the program. They are running advertisements and recently held a rally next to the Capitol pushing for additional vouchers for the program. Some senators were also reluctant to explain why the money had been removed Sunday. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg, and Sen. Rick Edmonds, who sponsored the bill to set up LA GATOR last year, allowed the state budget bill with the cut to move forward, but they declined to comment after the committee meeting. Louisiana Education Superintendent Cade Brumley, one of LA GATOR's biggest proponents, also refused to comment on the budget change after the committee hearing. Brumley said he had not had a chance to review the adjustment to the program yet. Yet based on the assumption that the number of vouchers offered would grow, Brumley had opened applications for the program across the state earlier this spring. Nearly 40,000 families have applied for the limited slots. At least some of the $50 million taken from LA GATOR is going to be used to restore $30 million to a targeted tutoring program for public elementary school students. Brumley attributed some of Louisiana's success on national math and reading tests to the tutoring program and said he was grateful it had been added back into the budget. Landry, Senate hope for hundreds of millions in federal Medicaid funding The Republican Senate leadership's version of the budget also adds hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to the state Medicaid budget. The money would be used to pay physicians and hospitals a higher reimbursement rate for treating Medicaid patients. Landry asked the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services earlier this year to allow Louisiana's medical providers to receive a rate for treating Medicaid patients closer to what private insurers provide. The federal government has not agreed pay the new rate yet. But if it does, it will increase Louisiana's federal Medicaid funding by $500 million in the state budget cycle that starts June 1. Hundreds of millions of federal dollars could also be given to Louisiana to retroactively cover payments in the current budget year that ends June 30. Louisiana's request for more Medicaid funding comes at a time when President Donald Trump and U.S. House Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, are pushing for ways to reduce the nation's overall spending on Medicaid. But the reimbursement rates are not expected to be affected by changes Congress is considering. UNO transfer to LSU System comes with debt relief The Senate has added $20 million in its budget proposal for the University of Louisiana System to pay off debt associated with the University of New Orleans, which is likely to move over to the LSU System this summer. The Senate has also included nearly $2 million for the UL System to continue a youth recreation partnership at UNO for another year and $450,000 for LSU to conduct an 'academic and finance' audit of UNO in the next fiscal cycle. Sheriffs will get paid more to hold state inmates The Senate added $11.6 million to the budget in order to give local sheriffs $3 more per day per inmate to house state adult inmates in their local jails. Currently, sheriffs are paid $26.39 per day per inmate to house state prisoners. Louisiana keeps approximately 15,800 inmates in local parish jails instead of state prisons. This includes almost 2,000 state prisoners who are in transitional work programs, where they hold jobs at private businesses in the community while living at the jail. Louisiana DOGE gets money, staff to find efficiencies The Senate has added $1.5 million into the budget to support the so-called 'Louisiana DOGE' initiative Landry set up to search for government efficiencies. The money will support 10 positions in Landry's Division of Administration to perform a financial review of government services statewide.
